Deflector

ABSTRACT

An interior deflector covering the opening communicating to the manifold and bag assembly in a gas generating device.

United States Patent 11 1 Loomba Nov. 6, 1973 [54] DEFLECTOR 205,8067/1878 Osborn et a1. 55 910. 20

I 3,674,059 7/1972 Stephenson 23/281 X [75] Invent Yfgendra Lwmba,Rosevme, 3,618,976 11/1971 Leising et a1. 23/281 x Mlch- 2,761,5299/1956 Wiscnbaugh 55 521 ux gneez C e C por e LClSlHg 6181. X

York, NY. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] F1led: Apr. 9, 1971 Appl.No-.: 132,862

47,445 4/1971 Austria 23/282 Primary Examiner.lames H. Tayman, Jr.Attorney-Jonathan Plaut [57] ABSTRACT An interior deflector covering theopening communicating to the manifold and bag assembly in a gasgenerating device.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED NOV 6 1975 INVENTOR YOGENDRA S.LOOM BA AT TOR N EY DEFLECTOR This invention relates to an interiordeflector in a restraining inflatable bag system. More particularly,this invention relates to an interior deflector located at a point atwhich gasses are being passed to the manifold to then enter theinflatible bag system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An interior deflector mounted over theentrance to the exit opening of a gas source. The deflector ispreferably mounted axially and such that the inflating gasses leavingthe gas source to enter bag system must pass therethrough. l

The deflector is designed to fit over the exit port. It is apertured toallow generated or stored gas, as well as electrical wiring as desired,to pass therethrough, said aperture or aperatures being small enough andspaced so that said deflector keeps debris from a pyrotechnic sourcefrom passing into the manifold or air bag system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a bag system; and 7 FIG.2 shows the deflector detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION duced from a pyrotechnic powder or (b)gas produced only from a burning powder only) is directed into amanifold 3 through a passageway 2. From the manifold, the gas passesinto protective inflatable gas assembly 20.

The pyrotechnic. gas producing structure is shown 4, in one illustrativeembodiment, and is composed of an ignitor 5, a propellent 6 and a nozzle7. The gas producing structure is fired on indication from a sensordevice by ignition of ignitor which burns and causes activation of gasgenerating propellent 6. In the embodiment shown, the structure 4 iselectrically connected (wire 50) to a detonator 8 at the opposite end ofthe gas source for opening the plug 30 which causes communication fromsaid source through the passageway 2 to the manifold 3.

In the embodiment shown the gas producing structure 4 (the gasgenerator) is in combination with stored gas (for example, nitrogen) inthe bottle 9. Further details of this structure may be found in U. S.application Ser. No. 81,947 filed Oct. 19, 1970 now US. Pat. No.

3,674,059 issued July 4, 1972, for example.

Gas flowing into the passageway must flow through the apertures 101 ininterior deflector (as does wire 50). However, debris occuring as aresult of the burning activity of the ignitor 5 and the propellent 6 is.

blocked by the deflector 100 from passing into the passageway 2.

In the preferred embodiment, as may be seen in FIG. 2, the deflector 100is provided with screw threads for attachment on the longitudinal axisA-A to the interior of the gas source. At the other end, the deflectoris provided with a central aperture 102 and surrounding apertures 103,both of A; to 1% inch diameter, and preferably 5/16 inch diameter andboth of which pass axially through the deflector to form the referred toapertures 101. The deflector is shaped generally conically for maximumgas reception and debris interception withthe tip 109 of the cone 104facing the direction from which the debris and gas are flowing. Themounting of the deflector within the gas source keeps debris from gasgeneration from leaving the source and contaminating or endangering therest of the system. Said deflector may be made, for example, ofstainless steel or cast alloy.

I-Iaving described the invention with relation to the embodiment shownin the drawings, I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising a gas generating source containing gas producingmaterial, protective inflatable re straint assembly inflatable by gaspassed from said source, a removable plug retaining said gas in saidsource, detonator means for removing the plug and an interior deflectormounted within said source for intercepting debris resulting from saidgas generation within said source, said deflector mounted on thelongitudinal axis of the gas source, said deflector being generallyconical in shape, the tip of the cone facing toward the directionopposite to the direction of gas flow, said deflector apertured to passgenerated gas without causing turbulence in the gas and electricalwiring connected to the detonator means therethrough for activation ofsaid source while intercepting said debris so as to keep it from passingthere past, said apertures passing axially through the deflector fromone end to the other, said apertured deflector being the only paththrough which the generated gas may pass'to the inflatable restraintassembly.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said apertures of about )4; to 7%inch diameter.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said apertures of about 1/8 to 1/2inch diameter.